The magnetic field patterns round a straight wire, a flat coil and a solenoid, the right-hand grip rule, and how electromagnets work and are used.
5 narrated scenes. Press play, listen and read along — the points appear as they are explained. Use ‹ Prev / Next › or the scene bar to jump to any scene.
A crane in a scrapyard lifts a whole car with a magnet it can switch off. That is an electromagnet.
Narration uses your device’s built-in voice. No sound? Switch to “Captions only” — the captions advance on their own.
Change the current, the turns and the core.
Copy these into your notebook in your own words — that is how they stick.
Concentric circular field; closer near the wire.
Thumb = current; fingers curl = field.
Field like a bar magnet; uniform inside.
Fingers = current; thumb = N pole.
Solenoid with a soft-iron core; can be switched off.
More turns, more current, iron core.
Crane, electric bell, relay, circuit breaker.
Reverses field direction and poles.
3 quick games on this lesson. Earn XP and badges as you play — your best score for each game is saved. Games are for practice and do not change your exam readiness. More games in the Physics Arcade.
8 items modelled on real CSEC Paper 1 questions. Choose one answer for each, then check. Aim for 80% or better. Work each item on paper first.
Write full answers, then reveal the mark scheme and tick the points you earned (15 marks in total). Show all your working — method marks count. Your answers are saved on this device.
Question 1 [15 marks]
A student winds an insulated wire into a coil round a soft-iron nail to make an electromagnet.
(a) (a) Sketch the magnetic field of a long straight wire carrying current into the page. [3]
(b) (b) State the right-hand grip rule. [2]
(c) (c) State three ways of increasing the strength of the electromagnet. [3]
(d) (d) Explain why soft iron is used for the core. [2]
(e) (e) Describe how the magnetic relay in a car works. [3]
(f) (f) The student counts paper clips lifted. State two variables to keep constant when comparing currents. [2]
Find these in your own past-paper booklets for extra timed practice. Items above are written in the style of these papers; any adapted from a specific question say so.